[Air-L] IAMCR pre-conference: Mapping New Perspectives and Debates on Digital Divide in Africa

[Massimo Ragnedda]

*** apologies for cross posting ***


Dear all



Please be informed that we still have a few slots available on the
following call.



Thanks Massimo



*Call for papers*



*Mapping New Perspectives and Debates on Digital Divide in Africa*



*IAMCR pre-conference*



Social media platforms are being considered new podiums for political
transformation as political dictatorships supposedly convert to overnight
democracies as more and more people are not only able to gain access to
information but also gather and disseminate news from a perspective of
their own. When looking at the situation in several sub-Saharan African
countries, it becomes clear there are several challenges standing in the
way of social media and its palpable yet considerably constrained ability
to influence political and social changes. Access to the Internet or lack
of it thereof, is a recognized social stratification causing “digital
divide” thanks to existing inequalities within African and several other
societies throughout the world. Despite issues associated with the digital
divide, mobile telephony is growing on the continent and the rise of
smartphones has given citizens easy access to social networking sites. But
the digital divide, which mostly reflects on one’s race, gender,
socioeconomic status or geographical location, stands in the way of digital
progress. What opportunities are available to tame digital disparities? How
are different societies in Africa handling digital problems? What
innovative methods are being used to provide citizens with access to
critical information that can help improve their lives? This call will be
seeking original contributions focusing on experiences from various
locations in several sub-Saharan African countries with the aim of
providing an updated, critical account on the digital divide and its impact
in Africa. We seek theoretical and empirical contributions exploring these
or any related themes:



-Defining and redefining digital divide with specific reference to Africa
and its Diaspora

-Theoretical interpretations of the concept

- Exploring the Afro-centered relationships between digital divide and
digital inequalities

-Differences between the first, second and third levels of digital divide

-Protest cultures in Africa and how they have fallen prey to digital divide



All submissions will be considered for inclusion in an edited collection
and a special journal edition that we are currently putting together.



Please send your abstracts or any enquiries to mutsvairo.bruce at uts.edu.au
 or massimo.ragnedda at northumbria.ac.uk



•   Abstracts due: May 15 2017 (In English only please)

•   Decisions on proposals: May 20, 2017

•   Paper drafts: July 10, 2017



*Location*

The pre-conference will take place at the Fundación Universitaria Los
Libertadores on saturday July 15, from 9:00 am.

Calle 31 No. 19 - 51 Barrio Pie de la Popa (Cartagena)

* Conveners *

*Bruce Mutsvairo is an Associate Professor in Journalism Innovation at the
University of Technology Sydney. His two latest books (Palgrave, 2016) are
Digital Activism in the Social Media Era: Critical Reflections on Emerging
Trends in sub-Saharan Africa and Perspectives on Participatory Politics and
Citizen Journalism in a Networked Africa: A Connected Continent.*

*Massimo Ragnedda is a Senior Lecturer in Mass Communication at Northumbria
University, Newcastle, UK where he conducts research on the digital divide
and social media. He has authored seven books with his publications
appearing in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and book chapters in English,
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. His books include: Theorizing the Digital
Divide (co-edited with G Muschert), Routledge (forthcoming); The third
Digital Divide: a Weberian approach to Digital Inequalities (2017),
Routledge; The Digital Divide: The Internet and Social Inequality in
International Perspective (co-edited with G Muschert) (2013), Routledge. ​*

-- 
Massimo Ragnedda
Senior Lecturer in Mass Communication
Northumbria University (Newcastle, UK)
mragnedda.wordpress.com
skype: massimo.ragnedda

http://northumbria.academia.edu/MassimoRagnedda
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